Global Warming Solutions That Work

Introduction

The following sample essay on Global Warming Solutions That Work Global warming has emerged as one of the world’s major environmental and social challenge. It has been a contentious subject and topic of discussion for environmentalists and policy makers alike. Its consequences are diverse and its effects on the daily lives of humans have been devastating. The increase in the effects of global warming in the world is attributed to the adverse behavior of humans. Greenhouse emissions from the activities of human beings are increasingly causing a rise in world temperatures (‘Global Warming’s Increasingly Visible Impacts’ 2).

These adverse environmental effects have been further aggravated by the way people live. Global warming results from some human activities that cause harm to the environment. Global warming is a phenomenon that has to be stopped as soon as possible. Curbing these adverse effects will require a change in people’s attitudes and lifestyle. Humans must devise environmentally friendly ways of carrying out their daily activities.

If humans learn to apply methods that would reduce carbon emissions, use energy efficient methods such as green energy, plant more trees and conserve the environment the global warming problem can be solved. This situation is alarming as well as life threatening and requires speedy action from the people. The global warming problem can only be solved if human beings embrace a lifestyle change and opt for methods that do not harm the environment.

Global Warming Facts

The world has experienced significant environmental and climatic changes in the recent past.

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One of the most significant observations of climate change has been the melting of glaciers at the poles and in other areas around the world. Glaciers in the Andes and Alps Mountains in Europe that have survived for around 5000 years have been rapidly melting over the past few years (‘Global Warming’s Increasingly Visible Impacts’ 14). Another example is the Montana glacier national park where more than half of the ice has melted ever since 1850. This phenomenon is attributed to the warming of the earth. This has led to a rise in sea levels all over the world. According to Wang and Chameides the levels of the sea around the world has risen by between four and eight inches for the last 3000 years. This trend is forecasted to continue increasing for the coming years hence posing great danger. Another significant change that has been observed has been the heat-wave phenomenon. One example is the heat wave that occurred during the months of July and August in 2003 in Europe. This was the hottest season in the continent for the past 500 years.

The heat claimed the lives of 27,000 people, the most number that has ever been caused by heat waves. Mass flooding and rains have also been experienced in countries over the years. The intensity of rains has increased compared to previous years (‘Warming World: Impacts by Degree’ p.19). Cases of droughts and wildfires have also have escalated in recent times. In addition, the snow pack in mountains has also been severely depleted a trend that is replicated in mountains worldwide. Mountains that had full snowcaps several decades ago now only have snow patches on their peaks. The glaciers at the poles are also melting at an unprecedented magnitude. The melting rate of the glaciers at the Antarctica for example, is four times more than the predicted average of the world. There has also been an uncharacteristic and abnormal transfer of wild animals and fish from their perceived natural habitats to other areas. These are just some of the significant changes that have been observed worldwide over the past few decades. They are a manifestation of the numerous changes the world has undergone due to global warming.

Human Activities that Increase Global Warming

Human action is responsible for the increasing global warming trends across the world. Human beings are increasingly carrying out activities that harm the environment. This trend has increased despite warnings by scientists some of our daily activities are harmful and destructive. These harmful activities in turn cause adverse changes in the environment that affect every human being. The increase in global warming has been attributed to the rise in carbon dioxide emissions around the world. Carbon dioxide causes atmospheric warming which leads to a rise in temperatures. According to Wang and Chameides the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased considerably since the advent of industrialization (‘Global Warming’s Increasingly Visible Impacts’ 2). The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from the burning of forests and fossil fuels. Human are responsible for the increase in harmful green house gases of which carbon dioxide is the most significant. Vehicle exhausts emit a harmful combination of green house gases hence increasing the amount of the gases in the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels by human beings also increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hence increasing the warming level of the atmosphere (‘Are human’s Responsible for Global Warming’ 2).

Many daily human activities contribute to increasing global warming. One would be astounded at how daily activities that would normally occur as normal are in fact harmful. One significant example is the use motor vehicles. Motor vehicles burn a large amount of fossil fuel, which contain a lot of carbon. The carbon dioxide produced is usually released into the atmosphere. Global warming is also augmented by the deforestation activities of humans. Forests and other plantation are natural solutions to the carbon dioxide problem. Forests absorb the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The cutting of trees ensures that the carbon dioxide produced is not absorbed. This leads to further global warming. Building homes or settlements sometimes requires the clearance of forests or vegetation. Massive clearance of vegetation for settlements as witnessed in developing countries is a major cause of global warming. The preparation and manufacture of supermarket meat for example causes massive environmental destruction. Vegetation is cleared to provide feed to animals. The processing of the meat requires high-powered machines that burn fossil fuels. Such animal’s digestive tracts also contain Methane that is released into the air as a greenhouse gas. These and other activities such as our lighting and heating systems release harmful emissions into the atmosphere that cause global warming. A significant number of human activities are harmful to the environment. These range from the simplest of chores to the most advanced. Each day humans contribute little by little to the ultimate destruction of the world.

Dissenting Opinion

According to a speech delivered on the senate floor by Senator James Inhofe, he refuted claims that global warming was caused by human activities (Inhofe p. 3). Senator Inhofe claimed that contrary to popular belief, there was no global warming happening and that in fact history showed that the world had experienced warming periods before. He claimed that climate alarmists chose to ignore the medieval warm period in their arguments in order to place their blame on innocent humans. He further claims that the alarmists notion that a one-degree change in temperature is alarming is wrong and out of context. This is because during the period that the change occurred, living standards advanced and food security increased. Another of his claims concerns the melting of ice caps. Senator Inhofe claims that this is not happening because of global warming. It rather signifies the end of the Ice age. He says that claims that the world is warming because of Carbon Dioxide emissions are false and unfounded. According to him, carbon dioxide emissions contribute very little to global warming (Inhofe p. 4). Many other Skeptics who claim that global warming is natural phenomenon and not a man made catastrophe.

Lifestyle Change Solutions

The power to reverse global warming lies in the hands of human beings. The realization that human activities are the chief causes of global warming enables people to understand that a solution to global warming is in their power. We may not achieve a complete change of effects but a gradual reduction of the global warming trends will ultimately enable humans to control its rapid spread. There is a need to change the way humans do things and embrace new energy efficient and less harmful solutions to our energy problems. This demands a thorough lifestyle change without which the world and everything will ultimately perish. All effective solutions to the global warming problem are based on a change in lifestyle. The global warming phenomenon puts the lives of all humanity in danger. Global warming is a ticking time bomb threatening to detonate if not acted upon with the seriousness it deserves.

Humans have the choice to either act now or watch in horror as the changing environmental situations make life difficult. It is never too late to act. Humans can reverse the effects of global warming if they change their habits and their ways of life. There are diverse ways through which we can solve the effects of global warming. Most of these solutions stem right from peoples homes and businesses. Renewable energy such as wind power is important environmental friendly energy sources (Dutzik et al. p. 43). We can tackle emissions by changing the methods we use to light up or heat our houses or offices. Homes and offices must therefore apply the use of energy efficient methods. There is also a need to address industry emissions. Industries are responsible for the highest carbon emissions. In the US for example, industries produce about 30% of all carbon dioxide emissions (Dutzik et al. p.6). Energy systems should be efficient and energy saving. The green building option reduces the amount of energy consumption. Vehicles are also large contributors to carbon dioxide emission. To reduce the emission levels by vehicles, people should purchase vehicles with low emission levels. Tree planting initiatives should be encouraged and cutting discouraged.

To be able to reduce the effects of global warming however, the public must be educated on the need to avoid the harmful activities listed above and embrace activities that are less harmful to the environment. Educating the community will create awareness on sustainable energy alternatives and ways to reduce emissions in homes and places of work. A change in lifestyle and behavior will assist in the reduction of emission levels and hence help curb global warming. Global warming threatens the sustainability of the ecosystem and provides a difficult global challenge. There is no solution to the global warming problem as effective as a lifestyle change. This inevitable change must commence now if we are to save the world from global warming. People all over the world must know that global warming is an effect of their harmful activity, which must stop if we are to save the world from global warming.

Works Cited

1. Dutzik, Tony, Hoen Joshua, Lawton Timothy and Sarah Payne. Global Warming solutions that Work. Environment America Research & Policy Center, 2008. Web. 5 March 2013
2. Inhofe, James. Hot & cold media spin cycle: A challenge to journalists who cover global warming. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 2006. Web. 13 March 2013.
3. Wang James and Bill Chameides. Are human’s Responsible for Global Warming; A Review of the Facts. Environmental Defense, 2007. Web. 5 March 2013
4. Wang, James, and Bill Chameides. Global Warming’s Increasingly Visible Impacts. S.l.: Environmental Defense, 2005. Print.
5. Warming world: Impacts by degree. The National Academy of Sciences, 2011. Web. 5 March 2013